Negative Film, Negative Space & Positive Thoughts w/Stephen Zane

Uncertainty is everywhere right now, and it can either shut you down or sharpen you. Mo sit’s down with Stephen Zane, a portrait photographer and the owner of Ybor City’s Coastal Film Lab, in Tampa Bay Florida. Together they talk about what it really takes to build a creative business while protecting your mind. We get into the boundaries that keep you informed without getting swallowed by news, and why a little positivity is not naïve, it is necessary fuel.Before you dive into this wonderful episode, please know we recorded in the bustling studio space and took ample time to figure out the best Audio editing in order to see to this conversation being published. If there are any hiccups in the sound—we’ve done our best and feel the conversation is worth the busy background!They also pull back the curtain on the unglamorous side of analog photography and film development: leases, staffing, backlogs, and the constant game of fixing what is most broken. Stephen shares how he approached risk without taking on debt, how the lab grew faster than the space could hold, and what happens when an open concept shop becomes both a community magnet and a chaos amplifier. If you are building any kind of small business, the lessons on systems, efficiency, and gradual improvement translate fast. Then they go deep on craft and focus. How do you master the technical side of photography so you can stop thinking about settings and start making intentional images? What does a creative plateau actually mean, and why do warm-up periods happen before you hit flow? Mo and Stephen talk ADHD, hyperfocus, walks and showers as reset tools, competitiveness turned into steady improvement, and why your attention span might be the most valuable asset you have.You can find Stephen & the whole crew over at https://www.coastalfilmlab.com/ or him directly at https://stephenzane.com/ And see all the cool film things at https://www.instagram.com/coastalfilmlab If you have ever felt pulled between ambition and burnout, this one is a doozy. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with a friend who is building something, and leave a review so more creative people can find the show.Do you want to be on This is a Metaphor? Send Us a Text!Instagram: @tiam.podcast &  @joyscout.mo For Guest Inquiries, collaborations, and questions: Email Mo: [email protected]“Don’t get Deterred, get Inspired”